We examined the relations between emotionality, emotion processing,
and aggression in 182 first- and second-grade children. Consistent with
Tomkins' and Izard's theoretical predictions, emotionality
correlated with emotion processing. In particular, the happiness
component of emotionality correlated with emotion attribution accuracy
and empathy, the anger component correlated with anger attribution bias
and empathy, and the fear component correlated with fear attribution
bias. Multiple emotion processing deficits—including emotion
attribution accuracy, anger attribution bias, and self-report of
empathy—placed children at risk for heightened levels of
teacher-reported aggression. Mediational analyses revealed that an
emotion processing risk index fit a model of significant partial
mediation between happiness and aggression but not between anger and
aggression. The results suggest the multifaceted manner in which
children's emotion experiences may influence the development of
aggressive tendencies.The authors thank
the teachers, staff, parents, and students of the Smyrna, DE, school
district for their enthusiastic participation in this project and the
dedicated work of Fran Haskins and our many research assistants at the
University of Delaware.